BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AND PERFORMATIVITY: PERFORMING FEMALE IDENTITIES IN ZADIE SMITH’S WHITE TEETH (2000)
BETWEEN PERFORMANCE AND PERFORMATIVITY: PERFORMING FEMALE IDENTITIES IN ZADIE SMITH’S WHITE TEETH (2000)

Summary/Abstract: Zadie Smith’s White Teeth (2000) represents a multicultural novel of a dual function in connection with Judith Butler’s theory of performativity. In some scenes in the novel, the female characters act within the gender norms created by their society. In this sense, their performative role is repetitive and stands for acceptance. In other scenes, the same female characters challenge the established gender norms. Thus, their performative role becomes subversive and indicates rebellion. This paper claims that their shift from repetitive acts to subversive acts is purposeful for their journey of locating their heterogeneous identities in the English society.

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